Virginia
West Virginia man charged with 2nd-degree murder of woman connected to Bristol
A West Virginia man is charged with second-degree murder and concealment of a body connected to a woman with ties to the Tri-Cities.
Court records reveal Angela Whitaker’s sister reported her missing after she stopped contacting family in Bristol, Virginia.
Investigators said Whitaker had recently moved to Bluefield to live with Donald Pennington, whom she had previously met while he worked at an O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Bristol. The sister told investigators Pennington offered her an assistant manager role, which prompted the move.
The complaint details Facebook messages, surveillance video, and witness statements that allegedly link Pennington to Whitaker’s death and the disposal of her body in a wooded area near Bastian, Virginia.
Court documents said the body was recovered last week by investigators in Bland County and taken for an autopsy.
Pennington remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.